Melania Trump has been blasted from both sides of the political divide for following in her husband’s footsteps in launching a new self-themed cryptocurrency.
The once and future first lady announced the launch of her meme coin, $MELANIA, via Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform following the launch of his own, $TRUMP, just two before.
Chaos swiftly ensued after it was reported that $MELANIA had caused the price of $TRUMP to almost immediately crash by more than 40% in value.
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Then, the backlash. One user, who goes by the name of InvestmentKage on X, commented, “88% of $MELANIA Meme coin owned by 10 people. This is straight up dumb.”
They added, “If you’re buying any of this you are straight up gambling.”
Similar slams followed from anti-Trump voices like Brian Krassenstein and artist Art Candee, who bemoaned the president-elect and his wife’s “corruption,” as well as USC Law lecturer Ben Meiselas, who lamented the pair “making billions” at the apparent expense of gullible investors.
Even conservative voices seemed baffled and put out by the carnage, with one pro-Trump account writing under the announcement on Truth Social, “What’s with the meme coins?”
They went on, “First Trump, now Melania… we have some major issues to deal with and you think this is the appropriate time to sell coins.”
Right-wing commentator Heath Mayo, who often posts criticism of the president-elect, was more succinct in his assessment.
“Such a scam. Can’t believe we just elected these jokers,” he wrote. “It’s like we gave a recovering alcoholic access to the liquor cabinet–and he hasn’t even been sworn in yet. The result is going to be terrible for our country and many good people who believe in all this will suffer.”
